What does pretense mean?

Definitions for pretense
prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛnspre·tense

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word pretense.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pretense, pretence, pretending, simulation, feigningnoun

    the act of giving a false appearance

    "his conformity was only pretending"

  2. pretense, pretence, feigning, dissemblingnoun

    pretending with intention to deceive

  3. pretense, pretence, make-believenoun

    imaginative intellectual play

  4. pretension, pretense, pretencenoun

    a false or unsupportable quality

  5. guise, pretense, pretence, pretextnoun

    an artful or simulated semblance

    "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them"

Wiktionary

  1. pretensenoun

    A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.

  2. pretensenoun

    Intention or purpose not real but professed.

    without pretense of accuracy

  3. pretensenoun

    An unsupported claim made or implied.

  4. pretensenoun

    An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.

  5. Etymology: From pretensse, from prætensus, past participle of prætendere, from præ- + tendere; see pretend.

ChatGPT

  1. pretense

    Pretense is an attempt to make something appear true or real when it is not, often to deceive or impress others. It can refer to a false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions or an insincere or false claim. It may also refer to an act of pretending or make-believe.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pretensenoun

    alt. of Pretence

Wikidata

  1. Pretense

    The Tollan put Skaara and Klorel on trial to determine who will control the host body.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Pretense

    Same as Pretence.

Suggested Resources

  1. Pretense

    Pretence vs. Pretense -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Pretence and Pretense.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for pretense »

  1. Petersen

  2. preteens

  3. pre-teens

  4. terpenes

How to pronounce pretense?

How to say pretense in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of pretense in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of pretense in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of pretense in a Sentence

  1. James Comey:

    Now it was pretty clear to me what was happening. The setup of the dinner, both the physical layout of the private meal and Trump’s pretense that he had not already asked me to stay on multiple occasions, convinced me this was an effort to establish a patronage relationship.

  2. Erik Pevernagie:

    Could it be that nothing can truly make people long for 'anything' or 'anybody' anymore? Is everybody invading the catwalk of superficiality and acquiring artificial gadgets to create a pretense of desire? Have they, really, ended up in a twilight of desire? ( "Crépuscule du désir" )

  3. Dejan Stojanovic:

    Pretense cannot sustain blind power.

  4. Antony Blinken:

    The demands that Russia put on the table were beyond excessive, they were, of course, nonstarters, and what we've seen repeatedly is that Russia goes through the pretense of diplomacy to distract and continue on its aggressive path.

  5. Abraham Lincoln:

    Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except Negroes and foreigners and Catholics.' When it comes to this, I shall prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty -- to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy hypocrisy.

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Translations for pretense

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"pretense." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 21 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/pretense>.

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